TBATE - CHANGING FATE

Chapter 8 - The Return

____________________________________________________________

VINCENT HELSTEA POV:

Looking through the mountains of paperwork that I needed for the upcoming auction, I took a sip of tea that Tabitha brewed for me and began to work. With only the sound of my pen scratching against the paper, I quickly developed a rhythm and finished one sheet after another.

*knock* *knock*

Putting down my pen, I walked over to the door and opened it. Looking down, I saw the familiar boy that was just moments ago fighting one of the strongest conjurors in Dicathen.

"Ah Arthur, please come on in! What brings you to my office? You've never really come here before" I said while pulling out a spare chair, moving it to the opposite side of my desk.

Offering him some tea, I watched as he took a seat and sipped on the hot drink.

"There is a certain matter that I wish to discuss with you today..." he gently said while his golden eyes pierced into me.

I could feel shivers spreading through my body at the mention of a 'certain matter'. Was I... afraid? Of a seven-year-old child? His presence – more powerful than even the King of Sapin – made every single hair on my body stand.

"What sort of matter is it?" I asked, the tone of my voice turning slightly serious. "If it's about wanting to date my daughter, I apologise but she is still too young for that sort of thing."

Spitting out his tea; covering my face in the process, his once reserved expression turned to confusion.

"WH-WHAT? NO! Why would I ask something like that!? I just wanted your help in getting me some items!" he uttered, handing me a handkerchief to wipe myself off.

Cleaning my face and returning it back to him, I curiously asked. "Oh, my apologies for the confusion! Anyways, what sort of items do you need my help in getting Arthur?"

"I need a sturdy hooded cloak or robe and a mask that can cover my entire face. It's essential that the mask has a voice altering function attached to it."

Swiftly replying, I agreed to his request. "Sure, it might take some time to get the mask, but I'll see what I can do! Obviously you don't need to offer me compensation as I owe both you and your father a lot."

Shaking my hand and thanking me, I watched as he walked out of my study, hearing his light footsteps get further away.

'Phew... that was exhausting. I can't place my finger on it, but just by being next to Arthur it felt as if I was in the presence of something... beyond human. Something even above royalty... perhaps a God?' Dismissing my nonsensical thoughts, I resumed getting through the unending amount of paperwork on my desk; internally crying at how much there was left.

ARTHUR POV:

Getting back to my room, I decided to continue training Sylvia's will while using aether rotation as Mom, Ellie, Sylvie, Lilia, and Ms Tabitha were still out shopping while Dad was at the auction house working.

"Oh damn, it seems like little miss ladies' man was finally rejected for once," Regis snorted as he leaped out of my body.

"What do you mean? Vincent accepted my request for the ite-" interrupting me mid-sentence, Regis started giggling to himself.

"I meant Mr Four-Eyes not wanting to hand his daughter over to you, dumbass! It seems that your charms have finally failed!"

Remaining silent, I ignored his childish attempts at mocking me. Seeing his jokes not affecting me, Regis gave up and spent the rest of his time sleeping on my bed. As I kept on training I noticed the time slowly go by, hour after hour, until it was almost sunset.